Knockdown shipping-case.



No. 888,548. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908. L. S. STILES & F. S. BENSON, IR.

KN OGKDOWN SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHELT 1.

S I gafzzgoza FIG-,2

Witnesses No. 888,548 PATBNTBD MAY 26, 1908. L. S. STILES & F. S.BENSON, JR.

KNOGKDOWN SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APE. 16.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a? v1 vzn has d Matt,

198 m eon:

188888548. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908 L. s. smss 88 P. s. BENSON, JR.

KNOOKDOWN SHIPPING CASE.

T NII D .1 1 APPLIOA I0 LE APR 6. 907 (SSHEETS SHEET a.

hiss sirarss FA FEIFT LINFORD S. STILES AND FREDERICK S. BENSON, JR, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING-CASE.

n0. ceases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. May 26. 1908.

Application filed April is, 1907. Serial No. testis.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, LINFORD S. STILES and FREDERICK S. Benson, Jr., ofBrooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented anImprovement in Knockdown Shipping-Cases, of'which the following is aspecification. I

Our invention has reference to knock down crates and consists of certainim rove mcnts which are fully set forth'in the ollowing specificationand shown in the accompan ing drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of our invention is to provide a construction of case orcrate which may be c llapsed and thereby condensed as to shipping spaceoccupied in return transportation to the ship )PT, the constructionbeing such that it shall be simple and cheap to com struct, strong anddurable when packed and subjected to transportation handlin and compactwhen collapsed or condense so as to occupy a minimum space during returnshipment. v

in carrying out our construction in'practioal form, we employ a. bottomand shallow sides in rigid form, and combine therewith two pivoted ends,hinged u per sides and locking devices for locking tie sides to the endsso as to form a rigid box-like case or crate.

Our invention also comprises in the above structure locking devices forlocking the parts in collapsed form.

Our invention further embodies details of construction which, togetherwith the above features, will be better understoodby reference to thedrawings, in which:- v

Figure 1 is a plan view of our improved shipping case orcrate in opencondition; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same on line22.; Fig. 3 is a plan ViOW of the same in collapsed condition; Fig. 4 isa longitudinal section of Fig. 8 on line 4-4 Fig. 5 is a cross sectionof Fig. 4-011 line 5-45; Fig. 6 is a cross section of Fig. 2 on line6-6; Fig. 7 is a cross section corrcs onding to Fig.5 with the lidfolded in a IIIOL ified form Fig. 8 is a plan view of one end of thecase in the 'lorin shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a pore ective view of areinforcing plate for the iinges; and Fig. 10 is a view showing amodified form ol retaining catcl'l.

A is the bottom and may be made in any nncr desired, but preferably ofcross lI-{LIS and huigitudinal boards and reinforced by two longitudinalbase strips A upon which the crate may rest and by which the bottomproper is supported slightly above the ground This bottom is providedwith side boards D rigidly secured m'place by screws or otherwise. Thesefixed sides have hinged to them the u iper adjustable side sections Dwhich, toget ier with the parts D, constitute t full sides l) of thecase or crate.

B B are thetwo ends and these are preierably made solid. They are hingedto the bottom portion of the case in any suitable manner so to beadapted to be folded inward upon the bottom A. In the particular at b toinwardly bent ends of wire spring arms manner the end frames restsolidly on the when raised. The same is true when they are folded downas the springs act to retain them in such adjustments just as a. knifeblade will maintain its position open or shut. While this type of springhinge is cheap and effective we (.0 not restrict ourselves to it asvarious forms of hinge joints niav be einployed, as will occur to thoseskil ed in the art; The hinged sides D are; ,referably formed of slatsand provided with upright bars R which obstruct the ends D from beingforced inward. when the sides are in position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and6.- These sides 1) are hinged to the rigid sides'D by links (1 of loopedwire. Such hinges are very cheap, but other types of hinges may be usedif so desired.

E are two top boards and are hinged to the sidesD by looped hinges e ofwire but prefembly triangular in outline as shoim in Fig. 6 to fit tothe parts D and E in their angular position to each other when the crateis open. The ends of these boards E are provided with transverse bars11, which (it down into recessod portions I on the top oi the end framesand thereby-prevent the said frames from being forced outward. It willthus be seen that the end frames are held in one direction by the ,bars7; and in the other direction by the bars R tl'iercby making a strongand rigid case.

To look the sides D and top boards E to the end frames B, we providelooped wire frames F which are hinged to the bottom hinge formed byinwardl; tions encendin throw-r g e ha.

and tn. red over as at hinge form shown these end frames B are pivoted.

B secured to the bottom A at d. in this bottom and normally hold theirposition looped frames F extend upward upon the outside of the sideframes, thence across the top over the end frames B and are snappedunder lockin studs C of metal secured to the top and middle of the endframes. These studs have under out portions formed by u wardlydirected'oblique slots 1 and when the 'transverse portions of the framesF are of the to boards by links it and adapted towit the lockingstuds'except under specific handmani ulation.

Ordinar' y, the cases may be left open-be. tween the two'to boards -E E,but 111 some cases it is desirab e to provide a cover or lid and in suchcases we may em loyv a central lid H restin at each end on t e topmiddle portions of t e end frames and hinged to one be locke to theother top board by any ordi:

nary fastening such as would employ astaple or pad-lock. In ourillustrations we have provided such a cover or lid but it may be while'we have shown the sides, top and omitted'if so desired. When employed,this lid is provided with notches H at each end to fit over the studs C.It will be evidentthat bottom as formed of slats forming an, open 1 orventilating structure of ship case or lock t em under the catc 1 foldinward the two looped crate that said parts may be ma e solid or in anyother way to adapt them to the particular use to which they are to beput....Such details are not germane to the spirit of our invention.

To collapse our improved'crate, 'it is first necessar to spring by handthe. looped frames out of engagement with the studs C and move themoutward; then disen' age the top boards E and sides D then fol inwardthe end frames B; then foldu'pon the said end frames the sides D andtop. boards" E and alsothe lid H if em loyed;.and then locking frames Eto the ositions shown in Fi s.'-3,, 4 and 5 and G having the hookedportions G under which-the said frames snap. In this condition the caseis not only in collapsed and condensed. form but is also in a lockedform in which it may e the looped frames 1 be ship ed withoutdisengagement of the parts. he several parts rest directly one upon theother and hence great solidity to the condensed structure is secured' Inlace of the catches G, we may employ ged hooks G 100 ed on the sidewires of and adapted to engage holes G as shown in Fig. 10, or any othersuitable form of retaining catch may. be emplo ed. i 1. 1 1 some casesthestrain uponthe wood of [the crate is severe and more especially isthis true when the crate is made of soft wood, and to increase thestrength of the hinged connections between the several parts where thelinks (1 e and h, or either of them occur, the wood may be reinforced bymetal clips such as shown at J in Fig. 9 having holes for the links andprongs J for engaging the wood.

The manner of folding the movable parts of'the case or crate shown inFigs. 3, 4 and 5 is most referred, but if desired said parts a be oldedas shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

ur improved knock down or collapsible case or crate is not only r. :eapto construct and strong and durable in use, but is easily manipulatedso" that very little time is congoin shipment'ior return shi ment. I

e have shown what we elieve to be the mostpreferred-form of-embodimentof our ingention for commercial use but we do not restrict} ourselvestothe details thereof as they "may, b e modified without departing fromthe invention? Havingnow described our invention, what we claim-'as newand desire to secure by LettersPaten-t istf- Ina knock down shippingcase, the

sumed in adjusting its parts either for out .combination of a bottom,'end frames hinged close to the bottomandadapted to fold upon thebottom, sides hinged at'a distance above the bottom and adapted to foldinward over the'ends when folds down upon the bottom and against the'ends when r'aised and lock them in upright-position, and two hinged 100'ed locking frames hinged to the bottom at t e base of theend frames andconstructed to'fit against'the side frames and over the end frames:

.2. In a knock down shipping case, the combination of a bottom, endframes hinged to the bottom, sides hinged to the bottom at 'a higherelevation than the end frames'and adapted to fold inward against theends and lock them in upright position, two hinged [loo ed lockingframes hinged to. the bottom att e base of the end frames andconstructed .to fit against the side frames and over the end frames, andlocking devices on the end frames for. engaging the looped locking[frames and holding them in looking position. 3. In a knock downshipping case, combination of a bottom, end frames hin ed to the-bottom,hinged sides ada ted to old inward against the ends and 100 them, twohinged looped locking frames hinged to the bottom at the base of the endframes and constructed to fit against the side frames and over the endframes, and locking devices on the end frames consisting of studs havingunder-cut portions for engaging the looped locking ames and holding themin look ng position.

the

4. In a knock down shipping case, the

coml '3 O inward movement, the hinged sides ha with the end frames to 11ving ward movement and t two top boards hinged to frame to end frame andlocking engagement 'engaging the recesses, an old them against out forholding the longi vo hinged looped lock with the end frames ing frameshinged to the bottom at the base of 10. In a knock t 1e end frames andconstructed to fit against the side frames and 'over the top boards andend frames. a

5. In a knock down sh pping case, the combination of a bottom, endframes hinged to the bottom, spring hinges for the end frames tonormally hold tion, hinged sides adapt against the ends and lo hingedlooped locking fr bottomat the base of provided with bars combination ofa b D secured to it, bin to the sides D preventing the them in openposied to fold. inward ck them, and two constructed to fit agains overthe end frames. 6. In a knock combination of a b d adjustable meansward, top board tudinal parts in contact frames and ha mines for to thebottom, hin

ward, b

ames hinged to the down shipping case, the

ottom having fixed sides ged side frames D hinged and provided withmeans for the end frames and t theside frames and mward against thehinged looped lock end frames being turned indown shipping case, the

s E hinged to the hinged sides and looped wire frar ottom and extend forholding the hing ottom, end frames hinged ing bottom at the base of tstructed to fit'against t the end frames, and I looped looking framesged sides adapted to fold of the case at a dista ving means engaging theend 4 in contact with them.

ends and lock them, two

preventing them being turned outed sides D nes F hinged to the ing overthe end frames 11 a knock down shi combination of a bottom 11 D securedto it points when the case frames hinged to the he end frames and con- 7In a knock do he side frames and over neans for locking the to thebottom portion nee from their hinged 1s collapsed.

combination of a bot idly secured to'it, e bottom at a lower 1 sides D,hinged sid adapted to fold inw lock them in open p locking frames hinbase of the end fra and top boards hinged side to the sides D andprovided wit preventing the end frames bein against the side aving fixedsides bottoi pping case, the

ward, top boards E hinged to th frames D hinged h means for ames andhaving means enga wn shipping crate, the tom having sides D r1 nd frameshinged to the evel than the top of the es hinged to the sides D framesfor preventing them bein ard against the ends and g turned ine hingedside ging the end ard, looped wire frames F l in position.

frames, and mean for holding the hinged sides D "in contact with them,end frames for loekin n and extending over tl g turned outiinged to thethe looped lockin when .the case is in e 1e end frames com ina tom incombinati close to and at t to fold down tow osition, two hinged loopedged to the bottom at the 8 ln a knock t ,,the.-b inward and top boardsmes and constructed to fit and means on the g the looped wire frame 12.In a knock down shipping case, a betthe bottom, two series frames andover the end on the sides" D for locking frames to the bottom ollapsedform. down shi tion of a bottom, Qttom, hinged-Sid against the endsspectively' tion, two t sides havi lend fr ard eao extending from endfra on with end frames hinged he ends of the bottom so as hingedtogether and ea pping case, the

sides ofthe bottom at nd frames hinged.

ably above the bin adapted to l top of the e them when tl 11 otherdirectly upon nd fr esadapted to fold and lock them re- .op boardshinged to the hinged ames to lock them res movement in the otherdirelooped locking frames hing against movement one direcof longitudinalparts for locking the end fra sition.

me to end frame and ge points of'the ends and )e folded against thesides and icy are fold parts together in their o 'top ng loeli11gengagement with the frames, and a-lid p top boards and ex eh serieshinged to the at the base of the end frame to fit against the sir oard.

an elevation considerames when raised and over mes 13'. In a knock dowpectively against ction, two hinged ed to the bottom s and constructedle frames and over the end rtion hinged to one of the tending toward theother 9. In a knock down shi )ination of a bottom, hinged to the bottomso a upon it andshaving locking tom in combination w edges,"longitudinal parts ext and longitudinal pen or shipping po- 'itl at the ends ofthe botto toward each other, two. parts extending n shipping case, aboted down, and means 1 end frames hinged m so as to fold down series oflongitudinal from end frame to end frame and hinged together and adaptedto be folded against the and means longitudinal parts toget shippingposition.

I 1 her ppingcase, the two end frames s to fold inward recesses in theirending from end sides and top of the end frames, for locking the endframes and her in their open or n testimony of which invention, we haveeunto set our hands. I

LINFORD S. STILES. FREDERICK S. BENSON, JR. Witnesses: x

' JAs. P.. MANNING, P. W. WATKINS

